Page 21 of Memories of the Past

“What’s that?”

“Aunt Vi’s chicken and dumplings. That will put all your worries to ease.”

I smiled. Aunt Vi always said they were the cure for everything.

“That dish gives me nothing but heartburn.” We both giggled at the same time.

“Wait! That is what you could bring for Thomas.”

I laughed. I’d remembered the last time Thomas had those; he hated them with a passion. “Thomas hates those. He used to tell me that they were like eating paste.”

“So, he’s had your dumplings before?”

I giggled. I could tell from the look in Peggy’s eyes that she wasn’t referring to those dumplings, and I felt my cheeks get hot. I did my best to ignore it and nodded. “Yes, and he really does hate them. So, I guess you’re right, that is what I’ll bring.”

* * *

Peggy had stayed until I closed the store, and once she was gone, I got in the car and drove to the small grocery store. I carried the two large bags upstairs and dropped them onto the counter. I began pulling the ingredients for Aunt Vi’s famous chicken and dumplings from the bag. Once everything was out on the counter, I pulled my small cookbook from the cupboard and turned to family recipes, then I grabbed the remote and turned the TV on toTheGolden Girlsand began chopping up all the ingredients.

I dredged the chicken in the flour, lighting coating it before placing each piece into the stockpot that sat on the stove top, each one sizzling away. Once I’d placed the last piece into the pot, I began turning each one of them, gently browning the other side. As soon as they were finished browning, I removed them from the pan and went back to chopping up my vegetables.

I dumped the onions, carrots, and celery into the stockpot and let them cook while I chopped some fresh garlic and added that to the mixture. Then I mixed the flour into the vegetables and slowly added the chicken stock, stirring constantly until everything was blended and had begun to thicken. I added in the wine and sugar, bay leaves and peppercorns, and returned the chicken to the pan, bringing it up to a boil, then turning the burner down to a simmer and placed the lid on the pot.

It had been so long since I’d made Aunt Vi’s chicken and dumplings that I’d forgotten how good they smelled. Even though this dish gave me heartburn, my stomach growled out loud, and it was just in that moment that I realized I hadn’t stopped to eat anything all day. I pulled two pieces of bread from the bag that sat on the counter and made myself a quick peanut butter and jelly sandwich. As I stood there watchingThe Golden Girls, slowly eating my sandwich, I felt Luna rub up against my legs.

“Hey, Luna, are you hungry too?” I questioned, looking toward her empty bowl.

She let out a loud meow as if answering my question. I smiled, rubbed her head and grabbed the can of cat food from the fridge, dumping the remainder into her bowl.

While the chicken was cooking, I quickly stirred up the dumplings and placed them on a baking sheet, then I removed the chicken from the stockpot, skimmed all the fat from the top of the pot, and began pulling all the chicken from the bones, using two forks to shred the meat. Once it was all shredded, I returned that to the pot and turned the burner up, allowing the mixture to boil, then just as I was taught, I placed each dumpling on top of the simmering soup, reduced the heat, and cooked the mixture for another twenty minutes.

I took my time cleaning up the kitchen and made my way down to the bedroom to change my clothes, then went back to the kitchen to check the dumplings, which I was happy to find were perfectly cooked. I shut the heat off and gently stirred in the cream and added some parsley and thyme.

I reached up into the cupboard to find one of my favorite casserole dishes and filled it, keeping half the pot aside for myself, which I left on the counter to cool. I’d place a bowl in the fridge for dinner tomorrow and put one bowl aside for Aunt Vi. I grabbed my purse and keys and carefully carried the hot casserole dish downstairs. As I approached the back door, I saw Aunt Vi’s diary sitting on the bench where I’d left it. I wondered if Thomas had read as much of it as I had. I wondered if he knew that Aunt Vi and Jed were once an item. I placed the casserole dish down on the bench and picked up the diary, shoving it into my bag, and then I picked up the casserole and opened the door, locking it behind me.

It was beginning to get dark as I drove up the driveway of the Jenkins farm. I swallowed hard as my nerves kicked in. Why had I agreed to bring this dish up to Thomas? I swallowed hard and looked down at my shaking hands that held the wheel.

“My goodness, you’re being ridiculous. Just drop the dish on the front porch like everyone else does and drive away,” I said out loud to know one but myself, then laughed at my silliness.

As I pulled up in front of the house, I cut the engine. The ranch hadn’t changed; it just needed a little love, I thought to myself. I climbed out of the car, reached into the back seat, and grabbed the hot casserole dish. I slowly walked up to the house and was about to climb the steps to place the dish down on the small side table that sat beside the wicker rocking chair when the porch light came on, my stomach instantly turning.

CHAPTER 9

Thomas

I hadn’t been back in Willow Valley for even a week, yet it felt like an eternity. I was sitting in the living room reading theWillow Valley Gazettewhen I heard a car come up the drive. People had been dropping food off on a consistent basis for the last couple of days, and it was getting to the point that I had no room left to put it in my fridge. I’d already started freezing some after all, it was only Lyle and me. I put the paper down, got up from the chair, and looked out the window to see a familiar car drive up to the house. What was Trinity doing here?

I watched from the window as she climbed out of the car and opened the back door, removing a dish from the back seat. I smiled to myself as she looked up at the house, a look of unease on her face. She began walking toward the porch, so I quickly darted to the door and turned the porch light on. While I appreciated the kindness from everyone, I also had done my best to avoid them, allowing them to drop the dish down on the porch and go, but Trinity was different.

First, I never expected her to come out here, but I was glad that she stood on the other side of the front door. Even after all these years being away from Willow Valley, the second I’d laid my eyes on her, I knew in my heart that I’d made a huge mistake in leaving. Even though she looked at me with all the hatred in the world, I could see right through it. She still loved me; it would just take me time to crack through that rough exterior she claimed to have. It was no different when she was younger and I tried to pursue her. First, I had to break through her exterior shell, but once I had done that, she had been mine.

As I flipped the light on, I looked through the window of the door and could see the look of panic that lined her face. I softly smiled, remembering the first time I’d seen that look. It was the first night I’d kissed her. She had given me a million and one excuses as to why we were such a bad idea, but instead of listening to her, I’d grabbed her arms and pulled her in for a kiss. She practically melted right on the spot. Then, as I pulled away, I saw the look. Only this time the look wasn’t from kissing her. I pulled the door open and stepped out onto the porch and out into the fresh night air.

“Well, I certainly wasn’t expecting you,” I said, my tone low.

Trinity stood there, not saying anything. She looked up at me, then looked down to the casserole dish she held in her hands as if she’d forgotten what it was and why she was holding it.

“What’s that?” I questioned, trying to glance at what was inside.

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